Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1870 — Weekly News Summary. [ARTICLE]

Weekly News Summary.

FOREIGN. Paris was declared in a state of siege on the 16th. Throngs of people were escaping froi»the city. It was reported in London that the railroad trains leaving Paris on the I.sth and 16th Were attacked and captured by the Prussians. Several passengers on board were killed and wounded. It is stated that in his reply to Jules Favre for an armistice, Bismark says there were questions still to be settled with France before the suspension of hostilities is possible. Gen. Ulrich reports on the 16th that the bombardment of Strasbourg was constant and terrific. He had no idea of surrendering. Metz still held out A special from Berlin to the London Times oi the 16th says Russia had declined all further effort for mediation. Bancroft denied having invoked American Intervention. Prussia was satisfied with the reserved attitude of England. If defeated, the French hope for armed intervention Germany demands the cession of Alsace and Lorraine.

Severe fighting at various points around Paris is reported as having occurred on the 16th and 17th. Prussian detachments were engaged in cutting off all railroad communications, and the investment of the city was rapidly progressing. The scat of government had been removed to Tours. A London special of the 17th to the New York World says: “ There is great excitement in diplomatic circles to-night over the report that an alliance between Austria, Italy and Russia is completed, the object of which is the division of the Turkish Empire, annexation of Prussian Poland by Russia, annexation of Prussian Silesia by Austria, and surrender of Italian Tyrol to Italy. It is believed that Europe is on the eve of a complication more formidable and extensive than was dreamed of a few weeks ago.” A fight took place on the 18th, ten miles from Paris, between the advance guard of the Prussian army and a reconnoitring party of the French forces. The latter were driven back, and the Prussians established themselves on the heights which the French had been holding. The Prussians numbered 30,000. The fight is said to have been a very bloody one, and the French, though beaten, inflicted heavy losses on the Pruasians. The contest raged for upward of two hours. ( The London Daily News correspondent says Bismark insists on the evacuation of Metz and Strasbourg, or else Paris to be starved out; A dispatch from Minister Motley, dated London, September 17—evening—to the State Department at Washington, says there is no truth in tho widely circulated report that the Prussian Government will not treat for peace other than with the Napoleonic regency, and that the Prussians refuse to recognize the French Republic. The Prussian Government do not believe the present government of France is other than local in its character, and claim that it does not faithfully represent the French people, and cannot guarantee the fulfillment of a peace treaty if one should be made. Mr. Motley further says that the Prussian Government docs not object to a Republic if it be established by the voice of the French people. Dispatches received in London on the 19th contradict the reported escape from Metz of Bazaine, with a considerable force. A mere handful of men only had escaped. Jules Favre had gone to the Prussian headquarters on the 19th. The number of deaths in Havana, from cholera, for week ending September 17, 580.

Late dispatches from China are unfavorable to peace. Nankin dispatches, August 22, state that the Governor had been assassinated by natives on account of well known sympathy tor foreigners. On the 20th the Prussians occupied Clamart, Mendon, Villeneuve, Beauvais, and Fontcnay. The Crown Prince was near Fontainblcau. It was stated that the headquarters of King William would be fixed in the palace of Versailles during the operations before Paris. The Berlin correspondent of the London Times, September 20, asserts that the Prussians were ready to treat with any French Government which is capable o/makingand’guaHAtb'Sni'STpßMff' A Tours dispatch of the 20th says, as the result of the interview between Jules Favre and King William, that the hope of speedy peace was not abandoned. Prussia was not disposed to consent to an armistice. If there was to be peace at all, it must be settled immediately. In a railroad collision between two trains near Tours; on the 20th, eleven persons were killed and twenty-five seriously injured. Tho people of Strasbourg, voting on the subject of surrendering, decided by a large majority to continue the defence; to the last. General Ulrich has been badly wounded. A London dispatch of the 20th says the final official figures of the capitulation of Sedan areSJO Generals, 230 staff officers, 2,095 line officers, besides 500 cfflcers of various grides discharged on parole; 8-1,433 privates surrendered, and were Irani ported into Germany; 28,000 were made prisoners during the battle, 5,000 . escaped into Belgium, 20,000 Were killed and wounded. Total, 137,000. An immense republican demonstration occurred in T.ondoflr t>n the evening of the 10th, at which, an dddress to the Republic of France adopted, in which it was declared that he monarchs of Germany j pro9cc”tc tbr ‘ -"w now againat Republi-

canism, and not against France, and that in so doing they are guilty of a great crime against liberty and humanity—against the people of Germany as well as against the people of France. Paris was entirely shut i» on the 21st, and all avenues of communication were cut off except via Berlin. A French redoubt, with seven cannon and several men, was captured between Villeneuve and Montrange, by the Prussians, on the 20th. The number of men under arms in Paris on the 21st was stated at 430,000, including 180,000 volunteers from the provinces. The city is reported as abundantly provisioned for more than four months. A report was received in Berlin on the 21st that the city and garrison of Toul had unconditionally surrendered, and was occupied by Prussian troops. It was also reported that Gen. Ulrich, commandant at Strasbourg, had died of his wounds. A London dispatch of the 21st says Russia was moving large bodies of troops into Poland. News frem Italy on the 21st is to the effect that Rome had been occupied by the Italian troops, without bloodshed; the Pope forbade any resistance. The Remans received the Italians with the greatest enthusiasm. King William reported to Queen Augusta on the 22d that the investment of Paris was then complete. A conference was being held at Meaux on the 22d, between Favre and (Bismark. There was great activity in all the departments at Tours, on the 22d, preparing for the national defence. A London dispatch of the 221 says the great cities of France will refuse to be bound by the action of the capital—Paris—if it capitulates. - - ; = —- . ' ' ; J The Papal troops at Rome, on capitulating, laid down their arms, and defiled before the Italians, who cheered lustily for King Victor Emanuel. Garibaldi was being held as a prisoner on the island of Caprera, on the 22d, an Italian war vessel cruising off the island.

DOMESTIC. Gold closed in New York on the 22d it 113%. Gov. Shaffer, of Utah, issued a proclamation on the 16th, forbidding the assembly of the Mormon militia, and cf all gatherings of armed persons within the territory. All arms and ammunition in the possession of the militia were ordered to be turned over at once to Col. Wm. M. Johns, Assistant Adjutant-General Gen. P. E. Connor is appointed Major-General, of militia. Four negroes were hanged, at Isle ol Wight Court-House, Va„ oh the 16th, for the murder of Joel Gray, a white citizen of that efunty, on the 11th of December last. 4 Customs receipts for week endiug September 10, $5,503,766. According to the' official figures the census of Chicago is 297,718, an increase of 183,458 in ten years, as compared with the census of 1860. The population of Cook county, including Chicago, is 348,709. The returns from 71 counties in Illinois show a population of 1,829,086, against 1,186,377 in 1863—a gain of 643,709. * It has been decided at the Internal Revenue Bureau in Washington that the exemption of promissory notes from stamp duty, for a less sum than SIOO, under section 4 of the act of July 14, 1870, applies equally to other written or printed evidence of an amount of money to be paid on demand, or at a time designated. Chief Justice McLean, of Utah, hasdecided that tjio Territorial legislation, whereby the Mormons have for teii years controlled the jury system of the Supreme and District Courts of Utah, was null and veil.

During the week ending on the evening of the 18th, there were fifty-two deaths at New Orleans from yellow fever. Hon. William Strong, of the United States Supreme Court, has recently decided, at Philadelphia, that divmends and interest paid by railway companies subsequent to January 1,1870, are not liable to internal revenue taxation. A vccent dispatch from Washington says: | ■ “ The drouth has so seriously injured the Eastern and Middle State's, that the crop of New England and Central New York is dried up. This will be almost certain to influence the price of dairy products, and give a fresh impulse to the growing business in that line. In the Western States, turnips and cabbages are also nearly destroyed, and the potato crop will not return a quarter of the usual yield. Wheat will have to supply the deficiency in tho customary production of food in tho East."

Ono hundred and twenty volunteers for the French army were arrested at New York, on the 21st, on board the steamer Lafayette, by tho United States authorities, on warrants issued on complaint of the North German Consul General Resing. They were soon afterward released, but not in time to get on board tho steamer. Some 500 or 600 volunteers managed to sail, however. The men arrested had been recruited in New York and Brooklyn. Customs receipts for week ending September 17, $4,501,831. The New York Evening Post of the 22d states that Secretary Fish has instructed Minister Washburne, at Paris, that he can do nothing in tho name of this government, to relieve tho suffrrings of German residents expelled from that city. Great disappointment prevails in official circles at Berlin in consequence of this decision of the American government The Commissioner of Patents has, in a final decision, refused to extend tho most

Im’potta nt of the Bessemer steel patents, and the process is now public property.

PERSONAL. The stone presented to President Lincoln, by many Roman citizens, has arrived at Springfield, 111, and will be placed in the Lincoln monument. The recent California State Fair was a great success. Receipts, $30,000. In Chicago on the 17th tho White Stockings defeated the Forest City?, of Cleveland- 9 to 7. Corrected census returns of New Hampshire show the population of the State to be 817,976; net loss, 8,079 in ten years. The Universalists commenced the celebration of their centennial anniversary at Gloucester, Mass, on the 20th. A Washington telegram of the 20th says the executive mansion was being rapidly placed in propel condition to receive the President and family, who will return there about the first of October. Austin Brooks, editor of the Quincy, HL, Herald, died on the 20th, of cancer of the stomach. Hon. E. H. Williams, of Clayton county, has resigned his seat on the Supreme Bench of lowa, and Gov. Merrill has appointed Hon. Wm. E. Miller, of Johnson county, to fill the vacancy. Mr. Miller has resigned the position of Circuit Judge of the First Circuit of the Eighth Judicial District, and accepted the appointment. The Oregon Legislature has elected Colonel J. Kelly (Democrat) United States Senator. The Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, in session at Baltimore, on the 20th elected the following officers: Frederick D. Stuart, of Washington, D. C., Grand Sire; A. C. Logan, of Kansas, Deputy Grand Sire; James L. Ridgely, of Maryland, Grand Corresponding and Recording Secretary ; 'Joshua Vansant, of Maryland, Grand Treasurer. President Grant has made the following appointments: Jos. P. Root, of Kansas, Minister to Chili; J. W. Taylor, of Minnesota, Consul at Winnepeg; J. P. Bardwell, of Ohio, Agent of the Chippewa Indians in Mississippi; Seldon N. Clarke, of Illinois, Agent of the Chippewa Indians of Lake Superior. A pugilistic encounter occurred on the stage of the Grand Opera House in New York city, on the morning of the 20th, between Jim Fisk, Jr., proprietor, and Max Maretzek, manager, in which the former is said to have been badly puni had, Hon. Leo W. Booker, Congressman from Virginia, and A. J. Hamilton, of Texas, have issued a call for a convention of native original Union men of the South at Knoxville, November 1. An immense and enthusiastic mass meeting of citizens of Chicago in sympathy with the French Republic was held in that city on the evening of the 22d.